New Caledonia

An earlier version of this story reported the heritage of a man shot and killed in New Caledonia on 18 September as being of Kanak heritage. This has been corrected...

France has deployed heavy security forces in New Caledonia ahead of the anniversary of its "taking possession" of the territory on 24 September 1853.

France's Constitutional Council has ruled that New Caledonia's list of eligible voters for local election should stay "frozen" for the time being.

The date for the provincial elections has already been postponed twice, and the French territory's lawmakers have endorsed a third postponement amid ongoing political division.

Sébastien Lecornu, 39, is no stranger to the French territory, having played a key role in a series of three self-determination referendums held between 2018 and 2021.

French Polynesia's leader says France has the "opportunity to reinvent" itself by "achieving a good decolonisation" in New Caledonia. Audio

However, they did not have to wait for too long as outgoing Armies (Defence) Minister Sébastien Lecornu is now the new prime minister.

The fall of the French government following a vote of defiance against its Prime Minister François Bayrou has cast more uncertainty for New Caledonia.

New Caledonia has been officially endorsed as the host of the 14th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC14) in 2028.

From promise to protest - how the Bougival Accord has thrown New Caledonia into chaos.

FLNKS recently warned against any attempt to "force" an agreement they are not part of, raising concerns about possible unrest similar to the riots that broke out in May 2024.

François Bayrou's surprise announcement on Monday that he will call for a parliament confidence vote in his government is set to further complicate protracted talks in Nouméa.

A newly established committee held its inaugural meeting in Nouméa on Thursday, aiming to translate a key agreement which outlines a roadmap for New Caledonia's political future.